14/09/2022  Happy Valley  Race 5

On arrival at the track, SIGHT HERO, which was fractious when being transported to Happy Valley, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. HARMONY N HOME and UNITED ENDEAVORS were crowded for room on jumping between NOIR RIDER which shifted in marginally and HARDLY SWEARS which shifted out. From the outside barriers, HAPPY SOUL and OUR CLASS ACT were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. After initially being ridden along in the early stages, KOKUSHI MUSOU was steadied approaching the 1100 Metres in an endeavour to obtain cover, however, was left racing wide and without cover near the 900 Metres. Making the turn near the 550 Metres, HARDLY SWEARS and HARMONY N HOME bumped. H T Mo (UNITED ENDEAVORS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 200 Metres he directed his mount to the inside of TAKE WHAT YOU NEED which resulted in NOIR RIDER being unnecessarily crowded for room and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. After considering submissions on penalty by Jockey Mo in respect of the imposition of any monetary penalty, the Stewards decided that Jockey Mo’s licence to ride in races would be suspended for a period to commence on Wednesday, 5 October 2022 and to expire on Thursday, 13 October 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). When questioned, M F Poon stated that he was instructed to ride TRIPLE TRIPLE in about a midfield position tonight if possible. He said it was felt that horses drawn inside TRIPLE TRIPLE would all be ridden in the early stages to obtain a forward position and therefore he should shift his mount across to race behind those horses. He said after the 500 Metres TRIPLE TRIPLE was travelling strongly and therefore he attempted to shift to the outside of HARDLY SWEARS which he had followed in the middle stages. He said at the entrance to the Straight he believed the only run that was available to him to improve into was between SIGHT HERO and HARMONY N HOME. He said as HARMONY N HOME had shifted out at the entrance to the Straight, he therefore continued to direct TRIPLE TRIPLE out with a view to improving into this run, however, as he was doing this, the room between those horses closed, resulting in TRIPLE TRIPLE being held up for clear running behind SIGHT HERO. He added that he was then unable to shift to the inside of SIGHT HERO to improve to that horse’s inside passing the 200 Metres as OUR CLASS ACT had shifted out and obtained a run to the inside of TRIPLE TRIPLE. He said this resulted in TRIPLE TRIPLE being unable to obtain clear running until the concluding stages and accordingly not being able to be properly tested. A veterinary inspection of KOKUSHI MUSOU immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of NOIR RIDER immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer’ which had previously been reported. OUR CLASS ACT and HARDLY SWEARS were sent for sampling.